Communication device for processing interference between signals transmitted in neighbouring transmitting spots, method associated therewith

ABSTRACT

A communication device for transmitting a plurality of wanted signals to a satellite from a transmitter, each of the wanted signals transmitted by the device being for being addressed to a given transmitting spot, the device including a set of reference values of powers and phases of at least a first reference signal received at different points of at least one transmitting spot, a first wanted signal generating an interfering signal in a neighbouring spot, the transmitter generating at least one wanted neighbouring signal in a neighbouring spot of the first spot, the transmitter generating a first correcting signal from the first signal transmitted and at least a first phase value and a first power value of a set of reference values, the transmitter transmitting a combination of the correcting signal and of the neighbouring signal in order to generate a corrected neighbouring signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to French Patent Application No. 1755966, filed Jun. 28, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of communication devices such as communication gateways transmitting signals from a ground station to a satellite. The invention is concerned with the field of transmissions conveying a plurality of wanted signals to a satellite to retransmit the same in communication channels dedicated to a plurality of terrestrial geographical spots. More particularly, the invention deals with devices and methods processing communications in order to reduce interference from communications sharing common frequency bands and for covering neighbouring transmitting spots.

BACKGROUND

Currently, broadcasting satellites enable a plurality of wanted signals to be broadcast or transmission channels to be set in different transmitting spots in order to cover particular geographical zones. The channels are set, on the one hand, between the satellite and, on the other hand, terrestrial spots. The signals to be broadcast generally come from a terrestrial gateway, transmitting the data to be transmitted to the satellite via uplink channels.

FIG. 1 represents a configuration enabling a solution of prior art and that of the invention to be described. The satellite SAT includes a receiver for receiving signals from the gateway such as a receiving antenna and a processor for processing the received signals to be broadcast according to geographical zones. The satellite SAT is capable of generating a plurality of transmitting cones in order to cover a particular terrestrial zone, having in particular an interest in terms of population. The geometry of the transmitting cones is configured from a given antenna pointing. A transmitting cone is also called “beam” or coverage beam in literature. This is also called a transmitting spot insofar as a beam covers a spot corresponding to a geographical zone covered by the beam.

Such a broadcasting satellite SAT enables spots covering a complex geographical zone such as a part of the terrestrial surface that can form a line or curve and even a closed shape to be defined.

FIG. 2 represents about ten transmitting spots from a same satellite SAT. The spots C_(i) are numbered from C₁ to C₁₀.

A given geographical zone is covered by a transmitting spot, in particular such that terminals of this geographical zone can receive, demodulate and decode the base band signal.

The signals are transmitted in spots dedicated to a defined geographical zone. The latter are arranged so as to cover contiguous zones and define adjacent surfaces or cones. The satellite SAT makes it possible to affect to adjacent spots, frequency channels which are defined in different frequency bands and chosen so as to limit interference, intermodulation, or cross-modulation effects that can generate parasitic signals in neighbouring spots. However, by taking the satellite resources into account and optimising the bandwidth in each spot, the frequency used for a spot are reused for a spot not immediately neighbouring but adjacent to a neighbouring spot. Thus, according to the example of FIG. 2, spots C₁, C₃, C₅, C₇ and C₉ share the same frequency band B1 and spots C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈ and C₁₀ share the same frequency band B2 which is different from B1. But, a problem comes from the fact that transmissions dedicated to a given spot can cover, even if decreased, a zone close to the zone covered by the given spot.

Indeed, a problem arises from interference between two neighbouring spots but which are not directly adjacent, for example C₂ and C₄, the wanted signals of which transmitted in one of them can cause interference in the neighbouring spot and vice versa.

When a terminal is mobile, such as an aircraft, and that the latter switches from one zone to another, interference effects can occur at the terminal receiver. FIG. 3A illustrates a mobile terminal T₁ switching from zone C₄ to zone C₃ towards zone C₂. In this zone, the terminal T₁ is more sensitive to the signals transmitted in spot C₂ which can be received in spot C₄, the coverage of which is noted S₂₄. The signals are viewed by the terminal T₁ as interference, noted S₂₄. The terminal T₁ can then undergo a significant degradation in the signals received by the receiving channel.

A problem exists in that the measured interference level can sometimes disturb the signals dedicated to a terminal when it is located in some positions of a spot likely to be exposed to interference due to the signals intended to neighbouring spots.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention enables the abovementioned drawbacks to be overcome.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication device for transmitting a plurality of signals to a satellite from a transmitter, the transmitter including at least one transmitting antenna and a modem, each of the signals transmitted by the device being for being addressed to a given transmitting spot via the satellite, a transmitting spot having a predefined geographical coverage of an antenna of the satellite, the device including a memory including a set of reference values of powers and phases of at least a first reference signal received at different points of at least one transmitting spot, a first wanted signal being transmitted in a first spot and being likely to generate (or generating) an interfering signal in a neighbouring spot, the transmitter generating at least one wanted neighbouring signal for being transmitted in a neighbouring spot of the first spot and being likely to be disturbed (or being disturbed) by the interfering signal, the transmitter generating a first correcting signal from the first transmitted signal and at least a first phase value and a first power value of the set of reference values, the phase and power values being chosen depending on at least one determined geographical position in the neighbouring spot, the transmitter transmitting a combination of the first correcting signal and of the wanted neighbouring signal in order to generate a corrected neighbouring signal to the satellite, the corrected neighbouring signal being for being transmitted in the neighbouring spot.

According to an embodiment, at least one part of the first signal and at least one part of the neighbouring signal are included in a same frequency band.

According to an embodiment, the set of reference values includes, for a set of given positions covering at least one neighbouring spot of a first spot:

-   -   a received power value of a first reference signal for each of         the given positions,     -   a phase value of the first reference signal received for each of         the given positions;     -   a reference ratio between a power of a reference signal         transmitted in the neighbouring spot and a power of a second         reference signal transmitted in the first spot, the ratio being         calculated for the set of the given positions.

According to an embodiment, the first correcting signal is determined depending on the reference values of the determined geographical position and of a plurality of further positions in the neighbouring spot.

According to an embodiment, the values of the reference ratio lower than at least one threshold for a set of given positions of a same geographical region define at least one critical zone of a spot.

According to an embodiment, the calculator automatically determines a command to generate a first correcting signal when the determined geographical position is in a critical zone or when the value of the reference ratio is lower than a threshold at the determined geographical position.

According to an embodiment, the calculator further conditions the generation of the command of a first correcting signal to the value of a criterion calculated depending on the power and/or phase values of the wanted signal transmitted in the neighbouring spot and of the wanted signal transmitted in the first spot by the transmitter E1.

According to an embodiment, the calculator automatically determines the power and/or phase values of the wanted signal transmitted in the neighbouring spot and of the wanted signal transmitted in the first spot by the transmitter E1 depending on the proximity of the determined geographical position with positions at which the reference ratio is lower than a threshold.

According to an embodiment, the calculator generates a correcting signal upon receiving information indicating the presence of a terminal in the proximity of a determined geographical position.

According to an embodiment, the phase of the first correcting signal substantially corresponds to the opposite phase of the phase of a reference signal received at or substantially close to the given geographical position and recorded in the memory.

According to an embodiment, the amplitude of the first correcting signal is calculated depending on the power value of the first reference signal received at the determined geographical position and recorded in the memory.

According to an embodiment, the determined geographical position corresponds to an antenna direction of the satellite relative to a reference orientation, the direction being coupled with a known mean distance of the satellite for calculating a gain and a phase of the reference signal.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for processing interference including the following steps of:

-   -   acquiring a first position from an input interface and a         calculator;     -   generating a first wanted signal to a first spot likely to         create (or creating) interference on a neighbouring spot, the         first wanted signal being sent by a communication device and         passing through a satellite;     -   generating a neighbouring wanted signal for being transmitted in         a neighbouring spot of the first spot and passing through a         satellite;     -   generating a first correcting signal from:         -   the first wanted signal;         -   a phase value associated with the first given position;         -   a power value associated with the first given position,

the power and phases values being chosen from a predefined set of reference values,

-   -   generating and transmitting a corrected neighbouring signal to         the neighbouring spot of the first spot and passing through a         satellite, the corrected neighbouring signal being obtained by a         linear combination of the neighbouring signal and of the         correcting signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and benefits of the invention will appear upon reading the detailed description that follows, in reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

FIG. 1: a configuration of a device of the invention having a gateway function to communicate with a communication satellite;

FIG. 2: a set of transmitting spots of a satellite covering a terrestrial geographical zone;

FIG. 3A: an example of representation of the power level of the interference generated by the transmission of a wanted signal in spot 2 and measured from spot 4 without the implementation of the device of the invention;

FIG. 3B: an example of representation of the ratio level between the power of the wanted signal received in spot 4 and of the power of the interference caused by the wanted signal transmitted in spot 2 measured from spot 4 without implementing the device of the invention;

FIG. 4A: an example of representation of the power level of the interference generated by transmitting a wanted signal in spot 2 and measured from spot 4 with a first implementation of the device of the invention;

FIG. 4B: an example of representation of the level of the ratio between the power of the wanted signal received in spot C₄ and the power of the interference caused by the wanted signal transmitted in spot C₂ measured from spot C₄ with a first implementation of the device of the invention;

FIG. 5A: an example of representation of the power level of the interference generated by transmitting a wanted signal in spot C₂ and measured from spot C₄ with a second implementation of the device of the invention;

FIG. 5B: an example of representation of the level of the ratio between the power of the wanted signal received in spot C₄ and the power of the interference caused by the wanted signal transmitted in spot C₂ measured from spot C₄ with a second implementation of the device of the invention;

FIG. 6A: an example of representation of an aircraft located in a border of a spot C₄, the aircraft being represented with the superimposition of the levels of signals from the power of the wanted signal received in spot C₄ and the power of the interference caused by the wanted signal transmitted in spot C₂ measured from spot C₄.

FIG. 6B: an example according to FIG. 6A with a processing according to an embodiment of the method of the invention;

FIG. 7: an example of steps of the method of the invention according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Gateway

FIG. 1 represents a telecommunication gateway 1 enabling data to be transmitted to a set of geographical spots noted C₁ to Cn in the present application through a broadcasting satellite SAT. In the example of FIG. 1, six spots C₁ to C₆ are represented. Each geographical spot C_(i) is addressed by a channel in which a signal Si is transmitted. The channel is in particular defined by a frequency and a bandwidth.

The communication gateway 1 includes an antenna for transmitting a wanted signal associated with a given geographical coverage, the signals are noted S₁₁ to S_(NN) when they are respectively addressed to spots C₁ to C_(N) and received at these spots. The antenna ANT is associated with a modulator MOD and possibly a multiplexer not represented. These transmitting elements form the transmitter E1. The transmitter E1 can further comprise an amplifier, filters, a coder, an oscillator and more generally all the elements enabling a modulated carrier including a base band signal to be generated, to code data or any other types of signals. According to an embodiment, the device includes a plurality of modulators enabling a plurality of output signals for being transmitted by the satellite to be modulated and generated in a plurality of given spots.

A signal RF is generated for a given spot. According to an embodiment, the gateway 1 comprises a multiplexer for multiplexing the signals RF and for amplifying the latter in order to transmit them to the satellite SAT.

In practice, the gateway can encode in a same transmitting channel, different wanted signals associated with different given geographical coverages for example from the multiplexer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the gateway 1 includes at least one memory M (or non-transitory computer readable medium) enabling reference data and possibly any data that can be exploited to be stored upon setting communications of the gateway 1 such as transmission configurations, encryption data or encoding data enabling transmission channels to be set, etc.

According to an embodiment, the memory M comprises calibration data related to the antenna radiation pattern associated with a plurality of geographical positions or geographical zones. These values are collected during test and calibration phases of at least one antenna of the satellite SAT. The values are normalised from at least one reference signal S_(R) transmitted by the satellite SAT. According to an embodiment, the values characterising the pattern of at least one antenna ANT comprise received power values Φ_(R)(POS_(k)) of the reference signal S_(R) in a set of positions POS_(k) or zones. Further, the reference values comprise phase shift values Φ_(R)(POS_(k)) of the signals received from the reference signal S_(R) in a set of reference positions POS_(k) and/or zones in the vicinity of the reference position.

Finally, other values can be collected, measured or calculated. By way of example, signal to noise ratio S/N values can be measured and recorded on a set of geographical positions POS_(k).

According to another example, which can be complementary to the previous ones, values of ratios of signals transmitted in different spots by the satellite and received in a same position, such as for example the ratio S₄₄/S₂₄ calculated at the points POS_(k) in spot C₄, can be measured and recorded. The positions POS_(k) can be predefined positions upon defining the antenna pattern for example from the antenna reference orientation.

Further, the gateway 1 includes a calculation system, such as a calculator K, which can comprise a microprocessor. The latter makes it possible in particular to perform value comparisons, signal correlations, gain and/or phase calculations from reference data and from a predefined or smart algorithm.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory M and the calculator K can be located in a third-party equipment accessible from the gateway, for example from a communication interface. According to one example, the memory M and the calculator K used to perform some operations can be in a remote server accessible through a network connection.

According to an embodiment, transmitting the signals to the satellite is made by a plurality of transponders sharing their broadcast scheme and the frequencies used in order to limit interference in the uplinks.

Satellite

FIG. 1 represents a satellite SAT including a receiver for receiving signals from the gateway 1 such as a receiving antenna, a processor for processing the received signals to be broadcast depending on geographical zones, power amplifiers and at least one transmitting antenna. The satellite SAT is thus, in an embodiment, a broadcasting satellite, in particular for a multimedia content which is located on a geostationary orbit.

One interest of the method and of the device of the invention is that they can either be implemented with a satellite already in orbit without requiring a particular adaptation. Indeed, the invention deals with the gateway and methods enabling correcting signals for generating signals to the satellite which are already corrected to be taken into account.

Spot

FIG. 3A represents spots C₂, C₃, C₄ and C₆. Spots C₂, C₄ and C₆ are covered by a same frequency band B₂ defining a transmission channel. In the represented spot C₃ and in spots C₁, C₅, C₇ which are not represented in FIG. 3A, the spectral band is noted B1. In reality, when such a solution is deployed, the adjacent spots are always partially covering each other, but the filter templates ensure a decrease in the power levels received in the adjacent spots fulfilling required specifications.

On the other hand, bands B1 and B2 are generally determined such that there is no spectral coverage between two adjacent spots. Thus, the architecture makes it possible to ensure that the transmissions in a band of a given spot do not disturb the transmissions of a spot directly adjacent to the given spot.

Each geographical zone covered by a transmitting spot C_(i) is also noted C_(i) to designate it. Thus, in the present description, the transmitting spot and the zone covered by the spot are used interchangeably to simplify the description. The geographical zone comprises aerial zones and terrestrial zones included in the spot transmitting cone. Each geographical zone considered is covered such that terminals can receive, demodulate and decode the base band signal.

Interference and Noise

In each spot, the “equivalent isotropically radiated power” (EIRP), is optimised such that the signal is received for all the terminals of a given spot. Each terminal demodulates and decodes the received signals to process the base band signal.

The method of an embodiment of the invention enables the interference induced by the transmissions in a neighbouring spot to a given spot but not directly adjacent to the same to be partly processed, the transmissions sharing the same frequency band as the considered spot. In order to illustrate this, FIG. 3A enables the case set out to be better understood.

In the example of FIG. 3A, the transmissions of the satellite SAT to spot C₂ are noted S₂. These transmissions naturally cover spot C₂ but also extend beyond as illustrated by the hatched band S₂. The part of the signal of S₂ which is transmitted by the satellite and received in spot C₂ is noted S₂₂ and the part of the signal of S₂ which is transmitted by the satellite and received in spot C₄ is noted S₂₄, it corresponds to a parasitic residual signal.

The powers of the signal S₂ extending beyond spot C₂ are reduced but are a low-power residual signal.

Taking the example of FIG. 3A, the method of an embodiment of the invention comprises a step in which the determination of the signals to be transmitted in a given spot C₄ is performed. The wanted signal S₄₄ is known and a correcting signal S_(24C) is calculated using the method of the invention. The correcting signal S_(24C) is calculated from the transmitted signal S₂₂ for being transmitted in a neighbouring spot C₂ and which is an interference source in the region of spot C₄. The latter signal can thereby be noted S₂₄, meaning that it is for spot C₂ but that part of the signal is interfering in the vicinity of spot C₄ or in spot C₄. S₂₂ is thus the signal transmitted to the spot C₂ and received at spot C₂ and signal S₂₄ is the signal transmitted to spot C₂ and received in a given position of spot C₄.

The following table enables the references chosen to be set:

Signal Signal Signal Signal transmitted transmitted transmitted transmitted in spot C₁ in spot C₂ in spot C₄ in spot C_(v) Signal S₁₁ S₂₁ S₄₁ S_(v1) received in spot C₁ Signal S₁₄ S₂₄ S₄₄ S_(v4) received in spot C₄ Signal S_(1v) S_(2v) S_(4v) S_(vv) received in spot C_(V)

In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3A to 5B, spots C₂ and C₄ are chosen as spots considered as neighbouring spots, even if they are not directly adjacent, and sharing a same frequency band. C₄ is the spot in which the wanted signal is sent, the terminal is located at the border of spot C₄ and the wanted signals transmitted in spot C₂ are considered as potential interference at the terminal position.

In considering the generalisation of neighbouring spots, spots C₁ and C_(V) are chosen as spots considered as neighbouring spots, even if they are not directly adjacent, and sharing a same frequency band. C_(V) is the spot in which the wanted signal is sent, the terminal is located at the border of spot C_(V) and the wanted signals transmitted in spot C1 are considered as potential interference at the terminal position.

Terminal T₁, which switches from spot C₄ to spot C₃ but which is still in the inner border of spot C₄, is configured to receive signals S₄₄ transmitted in band B2. It is noticed that the zone covered by the transmissions S₂ transmitted in the same band B2 is likely to receive (or receiving) signals intended to neighbouring spots and considered as interference for the terminal T₁ receiving a signal S₄₄. The position of terminal T₁ is noted POS(T₁)=POS₁.

Consequently, the ratio S₄₄/S₂₄, at the point where terminal T₁ is located, is dimensioning to qualify disturbance related to the interference of the signals received at the border of spot C₄. If the interference at this point is called I₁, I₁=S₂₄(POS₁), by considering only interference from signals of the satellite.

If the radio noise is noted N, the signal to noise ratio in spot C₄ can be considered: S₄₄/N. By considering the disturbances related to the interference received at position POS₁, the general degradation of signal S₄₄ can be considered as the ratio S₄₄/(N+I₁).

Reference Signals/Antenna Pattern

The method of an embodiment of the invention comprises taking known values of powers of signal received in some positions defined with respect to a given antenna orientation of the satellite into account. This is called antenna pattern or transmitted or received power mapping of an antenna.

Thus, when a terminal is in a position POS₁, a received power for a transmitted power reference level is known by recording the antenna pattern. This pattern enables the powers received from signals transmitted for a reference signal to be known in each point of a spot. Thus, when terminal T₁ passes from a first position POS₁ to a second position POS₂, the power received from a same signal transmitted by the antenna of the satellite SAT could have changed.

The antenna pattern can be carried out so as to associate for each power level measured at each calibration point, a phase value of the received signal.

Thus, the antenna pattern of the satellite SAT, which is carried out for example during a calibration prior to starting up the broadcasting satellite, enables a set of values {P_(i)′; Φ_(i)} to be obtained for a set of positions POSi.

It is noted:

-   -   P₂(POSi): the power of the signal received S₂ at point POSi and;     -   Φ₂(POSi): the phase of the signal received at position POSi.

In the document, signal Si and its received power P_(i) are indifferently employed at point POSi. “Si” thus designates the signal power at point POS_(i) as well.

The antenna patterns can be made for the signals transmitted in each spot. Thus, for a given reference signal S_(2R) or S_(4R), a reference power P_(R)(POS_(k)) received at a position POS_(k) of spot C₂ or a region of the vicinity of spot C₂ can be measured. In the case of the invention, one interest is to know the received power at a position of spot C₄ of a reference signal S_(R) transmitted to spot C₂. A reference signal intended to spot C₄ can thus be called signal S_(4R) and a reference signal intended to spot C₂ called signal S_(2R). The reference signal S_(2R) can be received in the vicinity of spot C₄, in which case it is considered as an interfering signal.

Insofar as the antenna patterns are known for each spot, it is thereby possible to calculate and even to measure a similar pattern of the signal to interference ratio: S/I at a given position, the interference being generated by a signal to another spot than the spot in which the wanted signal is received.

For example, the ratios S_(44R)/S_(24R) for reference signals transmitted by the antenna of the satellite SAT can be determined or evaluated for a set of positions POS_(i) included in spot C₄ and in its close vicinity.

If it is considered that a memory includes calibration data of the antenna pattern(s) including:

powers received from reference signals S_(44R) intended to spot C₄ and received at points of spot C₄ and in the vicinity thereof and;

powers received from reference signals S_(24R) intended to spot C₂ and received at points of spot C₄ or in the vicinity thereof,

then, the values of ratios S_(44R)/S_(24R) can be deduced in a number of given geographical positions POS_(k) as a result of setting the antenna pattern(s).

A benefit of the gateway or of the method of an embodiment of the invention is to take advantage of known values of transmitted powers radiated by the antennas upon calibration to set the antenna patterns. These values are reused in generating signals by the gateway for each carrier addressed to a given spot depending on a known position of a terminal and a supposed interference level at this position.

To that end, the method and the gateway 1 of the invention enable a power value P_(2R)(POS_(k)) of the signal S_(2R) and a phase value Φ_(2R)(POS_(k)) at position POS_(k) and transmitted by the antenna of the satellite SAT to spot C₂ to be taken into account. The reference signal S_(2R) then enables a correcting signal S_(44C2) transmitted with signal S₄₄ to spot C₄ to be built. The signal thus transmitted is noted: S₄₄′=S₄₄+S_(44C2).

A benefit is that the method of the invention can be implemented in the gateway 1 of the invention without modifying components and without particular updating of the software of the satellite SAT or of the terminal T₁.

A benefit of an embodiment of the invention is that minimising the ratio S/(N+I) occurs in air by recomposing signals transmitted by the gateway 1 and thus by those which will be retransmitted by the satellite to the ground.

Beforehand, upon calibrating the antenna, the interference level caused by the wanted signal S₂₄ at position POS1 could have been evaluated from reference signals.

According to an embodiment of the invention, upon implementing the method of the invention, the calculator has, for example, made it possible to assess that a threshold had been crossed by comparing the values of power ratios at a given point in order to automatically trigger the generation of a correcting signal.

The method then comprises calculating the correction to apply to locally compensate for the interference produced by the parasitic signal S₂₄ and generates the correcting signal S_(44C2).

The method then comprises generating a combined signal between the wanted signal S₄₄ and the correcting signal S_(44C2) to the satellite SAT to be broadcast in spot C₄. This signal resulting from a combination enables the interference caused by signal S₂₄ to be reduced.

Steps of the Method

Taking a Position of a Terminal into Account

More generally, the method is described with regard to FIG. 7 in which a position POS₁ is received by the gateway 1. This position can be regularly received through an equipment collecting a set of positions of terminals. According to one embodiment, the method of the invention includes a step of receiving and analysing a set of positions of mobile terminals.

The method makes it possible to detect whether a position is in a zone of a spot, for example located at the border of the spot, that is in a zone likely to be disturbed (or being disturbed) by the interference from a carrier transmitted by the satellite and intended to another spot. The step is noted DETECT POS₁ in FIG. 7. This step thus makes it possible to discriminate positions of terminals that may be susceptible of disturbance. When a terminal is located in the centre of a spot, the power received from the signal intended to this spot is such that the ratio S/I is large enough for the method of the invention not to apply a correcting signal. Consequently, the analysis of the position of a terminal is decisive in applying the method of the invention or not.

Looking up Reference Data

The method then comprises a step of looking up reference data in a database referencing a set of calibration values. This step is noted EXPL (ENSr) in FIG. 7. This step makes it possible to exploit at least one received power value at a position close or identical to position POS₁ of the terminal. The exploited received power values relate to those of a reference signal intended to another spot than that in which the terminal is located and likely to cause (or causing) interference in the vicinity of this point. This is the case of a signal intended to spot C₂ and disturbing wanted signals at the border of spot C₄. Further, the values also relate to the received powers of a reference signal intended to spot C₄ and the measurement of which is known at the border of spot C₄. The latter two power values enable us to exploit a reference ratio S/I at the border of spot C₄.

According to an embodiment, the method includes a step DETECT SPOT INT enabling the potentially most interfering spot to be discriminated depending on the position of terminal T1. This step can be performed together with the step of exploiting the reference values EXPL (ENSr). A segmentation of the zones can for example be preset enabling for example a zone at the border of a given spot to be associated with a neighbouring spot the transmissions of which are potentially disturbing.

Signal S₁ can cause interference to the received signals S_(VV) of a terminal T₁ located at a position POS₁ of a neighbouring spot C_(V). Signal S₁ is then considered as an interfering signal, it is noted S_(1V), at position POS₁ of the neighbouring spot C_(V) (see notations in the table below).

In order to measure whether interference can occur in the region close to terminal T₁, the method thus makes it possible to exploit signal to interference power ratios S/I at point POS₁ which are known for a reference signal S_(R) that has enabled the antenna pattern to be defined. In the same way, in the general case, the power ratios between:

-   -   the power of a reference signal S_(VVR) transmitted by the         satellite and intended to the neighbouring spot Cv and;     -   the power of a reference signal S_(1VR) intended to a         neighbouring spot C₁ of spot Cv and likely to create (or         creating) interference in the vicinity of point POS₁, position         POS₁ being located in the neighbouring spot Cv,     -   can be defined and exploited since these ratios can be         determined.

The power of signal S₁ at point POS₁ located in spot Cv, that is S_(1v), is noted P₁/P_(V)(POS₁). The power of signal S_(V) t point POS₁ is noted P_(V)(POS₁), then, the ratio P₁/P_(V)(POS₁), also noted S₁₁/S_(1V) enables whether a correcting action has to be conducted or not to be evaluated.

Correcting Signal

The method of an embodiment of the invention then makes it possible to generate a correcting signal S_(VVC1) for being transmitted in spot Cv. This step is noted GEN S_(VVC1)(Cv) in FIG. 7, S_(SVVC1) designates the correcting signal transmitted to spot Cv to correct interference effects caused by signal S_(1V). This step enables a reply of signal S₁ to be generated by adapting its amplitude and phase to obtain an interference cancelling effect in the vicinity of position POS₁ in spot Cv, or at least a decrease in their effects. This can also be called signal destructing interference causing interference in the vicinity of position POS₁.

The correcting signal S_(VVC1) is thus built from the reference signal S_(11R) intended to spot C₁ by applying to it an amplitude substantially equal to the amplitude of signal S₁₁ transmitted to spot C₁ or in other words, equal to the amplitude of signal S_(1v) transmitted to Cv. Further, the correcting signal S_(VVC1) is 180° phase shifted to the phase of the reference signal S_(1VR) chosen in the set of reference values ENSr at position POS₁, or a close position. According to an embodiment, the method does not take a phase correction to apply in order to switch from the reference signal S_(1VR) to the transmitted signal S_(1V) into account.

It is reminded that the values of the correcting amplitude and the correcting phase are calculated from reference data of a reference signal S_(R), a reference amplitude and a reference phase shift of which are known at a given point. Since the carrier actually transmitted at a given instant and the configuration of the satellite are known, the parameters enabling data relating to the reference signal S_(1VR) to be transposed to that relating to the transmitted wanted signal S_(1V) can thereby be readily determined.

According to improved embodiments, the phase shift introduced in the correcting signal S_(1VC) takes phase shift effects of signal S_(1V) into consideration in the transmitting chain such that the cancellation is maximum at position POS₁.

The method of an embodiment of the invention finally includes a step of generating the signal intended to spot C_(v): S_(vv)′ which includes a combination of the signal initially intended to spot C_(v): S_(vv) and of the correcting signal S_(vvC1).

The signal transmitted by the gateway is thus a combined signal:

S _(vv) ′=S _(vv) +S _(vvc1)

where S_(vv) is the signal initially transmitted to spot Cv and S_(vvC1) is the correcting signal for removing part of the interference at position POS₁ from signal S₁ transmitted in spot C₁.

The combination can be made once the signals are each independently transmitted by coherent construction over the air.

Taking Adjustment to Reference Values into Account

According to an embodiment, when reference values ENSr of powers and phases have been measured during a calibration operation, it is thereby possible to apply a parameter for exploiting transmissions aiming at adapting the reference values to a context of use.

To that end, a ground radio device can be associated with gateway 1 in order to dynamically measure phase Φ_(VV) of the signal received (or Φ₄₄ in the case of FIG. 3A) and the power of the received signal S_(VV) (or S₄₄ in the case of FIG. 3A) on at least one geographical point POSi. This measurement enables the actual phase and power to be known during the phase of exploiting the satellite in a given point. A drawback is that the measurement at the desired point should be performed.

However, some measurements performed at chosen points enable the values of the reference data to be adapted at will with one of the measured values enabling data obtained upon calibrating the antenna to be tuned.

In the case of the example of FIG. 3A, let us consider a first reference phase shift Φ_(2R)(POS_(i)) at point POS_(i) of 70° measured upon carrying out the antenna pattern for the transmissions in spot C₂ and a second reference phase shift Φ_(2R)(POS_(k)) at point POS_(k) of 30° measured upon carrying out the antenna pattern for the transmissions in spot C₂.

If the radio device is positioned at position POS_(k) and that an actual phase shift value is measured at 33° instead of 30° upon receiving the signal transmitted by the satellite SAT to spot C₂, it is noticed that an error of 3° is present in the phase of the receiving signal S₂₂(POS_(k)) toward that of the reference signal S_(22R)(POS_(k)). This offset can be related to the situation of the satellite SAT, its configuration or a given transmission context. It is thereby possible to extrapolate this 3° correction on the measurement of the phase Φ_(2R)(POS_(i)) at point POS_(i) that can be assumed in a same geographical region as point POS_(k).

Thus, gateway 1 of an embodiment of the invention can take a dynamic correction parameter into account in addition to a static correction parameter only calculated from reference values resulting from an antenna pattern pre-calibration.

FIG. 3B represents the signal to interference ratio, noted S/I, at spot C₄ considering that the interference is due to the transmissions in spot C₂, it can also be noted S₄₄/S₂₄. Zone 31 designates a zone in which the ratio S/I is higher than a given threshold for which the transmissions are deemed satisfactory. Zone 30 designates a zone in which the interference is such that the ratio S/I is lower than a threshold for which it is considered that the interference degrades the transmissions and that a correcting signal should be generated according to the method of the invention. In zone 32, the ratio S/I is theoretically low.

The case of FIG. 3B thus represents a terminal T₁ in a position for which a correcting signal could be applied to improve the quality of the received signal. But, it can be noted that a consequence of the application of such a correcting signal is that it is applied to the entire region of spot C₄.

Potentially, the application of a correcting signal S_(44C1) improving the quality of the received signal S₄₄′ at position POS₁ of terminal T₁ can deteriorate the transmissions in other positions of SPOT C₄. The application of the correcting signal can thus take a compromise criterion into account between the improvement obtained in position POS₁ and the deterioration at one or more other positions of spot C₄.

FIG. 6A represents the superimposition of the power curves of signals received at an angle measured with respect to the satellite. The direction of the terminal T₁ in the reference frame of the satellite can be defined with respect to a reference angle of the antenna orientation. As a first approximation, a position of an aircraft in the sky is substantially equivalent to a position calculated on the ground in view of the altitude of the satellite generally positioned on a geostationary orbit.

Two curves represent the signals transmitted by the satellite in spots C₂ and C₄, respectively S₂ and S₄. The signals represent lobes which partially cover each other. In the case of FIG. 6A, the aircraft T₁ is in a position POS₁ in spot C₄. The signals S₄₄ transmitted and received in spot C₄ are likely to be disturbed (or being disturbed) by the signals transmitted in spot C₂, the signal considered as interfering is noted S₂₄(POS₁).

Upon reading FIG. 6A, it is understood that the ratio S₄₄/S₂₄ low at position POS₁ of the aircraft.

FIG. 4A represents a case in which the correcting signal S_(44C2) is applied. This correcting signal naturally causes a coverage extension of signal S₂₂. FIG. 4A illustrates that a part of signal S_(44C2) is generated in the middle of the spot C₄ or outside the same. This is quite normal because the correcting signal is sent in spot C₄.

FIG. 4B represents the ratio S/I, that is the ratio—S₄₄′/S₂₄. It is observed that at the border of spot C₄, terminal T₁ is in a portion 31′ having a ratio higher than a threshold. Consequently, the introduction of the correcting signal has enabled the reception of the wanted signal S₄₄ to be improved at terminal T₁. On the other hand, it is noticed that the portion 30 in which the wanted signal of spot C₄ is transmitted is degraded because of the presence of the correcting signal. It is considered in this embodiment, that the situation of the terminal is prevalent on the set of the positions of the spot.

FIG. 6B represents the lobes of the signals of FIG. 6A after applying the method of the invention. The application of the method of an embodiment of the invention thus enables a better ratio S/I to be obtained at position POS₁.

It is also observed that the generation of the correcting signal S_(44C2) generates a lobe in spot C₄. The method of an embodiment of the invention thus possibly enables a decision parameter to be taken into account in order to apply the correcting signal or not. By way of example, the presence of other terminals in spot C₄ can be taken into account in order not to generate a correcting signal. According to one embodiment, the number of terminals and their position in a spot can be taken into account.

FIGS. 5A and 5B represent cases in which the correcting signal enables a very good ratio S/I to be obtained in zone 31″, at the border of spot C₄. The correcting signal S_(44C2) enables, in this case, a better result to be obtained, that is a reception at position POS₁ of a wanted signal S₄₄′ that is less disturbed by signal S₂₄.

However, by comparing FIGS. 4B and 5B, it is observed in FIG. 5B that an upper zone 31′ of FIG. 4B has disappeared and that zone 30 covers a larger part of spot C₄ in FIG. 5B. Thereby, it is understood that a better processing in position POS₁ can degrade the quality of the received signal in other positions of spot C₄.

According to an embodiment, an optimisation can be made by taking two neighbouring spots into consideration. For example, the processing of the signals transmitted in spot C₄ can take into account the transmissions, considered as generating interference, in spots C₂ and C₆. It is reminded that the latter transmissions are in the same frequency band as the transmissions intended to spot C₄. According to an embodiment, the transmission of signal S₄₄ can thereby be made together with the generation of two correcting signals: S_(44C2) and S_(44C6). This configuration can be chosen when corrections have to be applied at the same moment at two different positions, for example at position POS₁ and position POS₂. This configuration generally generates a deterioration in the received signal at the other positions of spot C₄. In particular, in the positions other than position POS₁ and its vicinity and position POS₂ and its vicinity. A compromise should be made by taking the environment of the terminals of spot C₄ into consideration.

A benefit of the invention is that it allows a “tailored” processing of the signal transmitted at one or more positions of terminals. Another benefit of the invention is to manage terminals with priority to others in order to make it sure that the transmissions for a priority terminal can be set.

Finally, another benefit is to benefit from a known antenna pattern in order to generate a correcting signal dynamically as a function of a position of a terminal.

Another benefit is to allow a local reduction in the interference without intervening on the terminals or on the satellite. The invention requires modifications only on the gateway. 

1. A communication device for transmitting a plurality of signals to a satellite from a transmitter, said transmitter including at least one transmitting antenna and a modem, each of the signals transmitted by the device being for being addressed to a given transmitting spot via the satellite, a transmitting spot having a predefined geographical coverage of an antenna of the satellite, said communication device including a memory including a set of reference values of powers and phases of at least a first reference signal received at different points of at least one transmitting spot, a first wanted signal being transmitted in a first spot and generating an interfering signal in a neighbouring spot, the transmitter adapted to generate at least one wanted neighbouring signal for being transmitted in a neighbouring spot of the first spot and being disturbed by the interfering signal, the transmitter adapted to generate a first correcting signal from the first transmitted signal and at least a first phase value and a first power value of the set of reference values, said phase and power values being chosen depending on at least one determined geographical position in the neighbouring spot, said transmitter adapted to transmit a combination of the first correcting signal and the wanted neighbouring signal in order to generate a corrected neighbouring signal to the satellite, said corrected neighbouring signal being for being transmitted in the neighbouring spot.
 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein at least one part of the first signal and at least one part of the neighbouring signal are included in a same frequency band.
 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the set of reference values includes, for a set of given positions covering at least one neighbouring spot of a first spot: a received power value of a first reference signal for each of the given positions, a phase value of the first reference signal received for each of the given positions; a reference ratio between a power of a reference signal transmitted in the neighbouring spot and a power of a second reference signal transmitted in the first spot, said ratio being calculated for the set of the given positions.
 4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the first correcting signal is determined depending on the reference values of the determined geographical position and of a plurality of further positions in the neighbouring spot.
 5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the values of the reference ratio lower than at least one threshold for a set of given positions of a same geographical region define at least one critical zone of a spot.
 6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein the calculator is adapted to automatically determine a command to generate a first correcting signal when the determined geographical position is in a critical zone or when the value of the reference ratio is lower than a threshold at the determined geographical position.
 7. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the calculator further conditions the generation of the command of a first correcting signal to the value of a criterion calculated depending on the power and/or phase values of the wanted signal transmitted in the neighbouring spot and of the wanted signal transmitted in the first spot by the transmitter.
 8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the calculator is adapted to automatically determines the power and/or phase values of the wanted signal transmitted in the neighbouring spot and of the wanted signal transmitted in the first spot by the transmitter depending on the proximity of the determined geographical position with positions at which the reference ratio is lower than a threshold.
 9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the calculator is adapted to generate a correcting signal upon receiving information indicating the presence of a terminal in the proximity of a determined geographical position.
 10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the phase of the first correcting signal substantially corresponds to the opposite phase of the phase of a reference signal received at or substantially close to the given geographical position and recorded in the memory.
 11. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the amplitude of the first correcting signal is calculated depending on the power value of the first reference signal received at the determined geographical position and recorded in the memory.
 12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the determined geographical position corresponds to an antenna direction of the satellite relative to a reference orientation, said direction being coupled with a known mean distance of the satellite for calculating a gain and a phase of the reference signal.
 13. A method for processing interference comprising: acquiring a first position from an input interface and a calculator; generating a first wanted signal to a first spot creating interference on a neighbouring spot, said first wanted signal being sent by a communication device and passing through a satellite; generating a neighbouring wanted signal for being transmitted in a neighbouring spot of the first spot and passing through a satellite; generating a first correcting signal from: the first wanted signal; a phase value associated with the first given position; a power value associated with the first given position, said power and phase values being chosen from a predefined set of reference values, generating and transmitting a corrected neighbouring signal to the neighbouring spot of the first spot and passing through a satellite, said corrected neighbouring signal being obtained by a linear combination of the neighbouring signal and of the correcting signal. 